According to calculations by the Barmer health insurance company, nearly one in four preschoolers in Saxony has a speech disorder. In 2024, 23.8 percent of two- to five-year-olds exhibited such developmental disorders, Barmer reported. In 2005, the proportion of affected children was still 19.8 percent.
Motor development disorders affected about 8.3 percent of children under the age of six. This represents a 26 percent increase compared to 2005. According to the data, boys are affected by developmental disorders more frequently than girls. For the calculation, anonymized data based on figures from the Federal Statistical Office were standardized and extrapolated.
From the very beginning, children need opportunities to speak, play, and move in order to develop healthily, emphasized Claudia Beutmann, regional director of Barmer in Saxony. These activities not only promote their development but also foster social skills. Reliable social contacts are indispensable in this regard. Digital media cannot replace personal attention. “Especially in the first years of life, real interactions and shared experiences are crucial,” Beutmann explained.
